Bernardo's book (The last Prabhu) is well written. Here is my take (on Amazon review a couple of days ago).
I believe that this book will be used as a reference and guide for years to come. Bernardo has used his scientific background to succinctly walk the reader through the science of DNA for laymen like myself. In this book, the author has used quantitative research, however due to his love for history and tertiary interests, he has combined qualitative and mixed methods to provide another lens of history. Some of the narratives make me reminisce the times I spent in Goa. There are numerous facts regarding the upheavals in Goa and village life that makes the reader want to learn more. I for one will try to find the communidade details of my family from the various villages in Goa.
Whist our ancestors meandered with purpose through Africa, Europe and Asia, I was always proud that I could identify myself as a Goan for at least 6 generations. Even though my great grandfather lived most of his life in Ahmedabad, his siblings in Pune and East Africa and his descendants in Bombay, his relatives and other family in Karachi, Calcutta and some mofussil areas in and around central India, yet we all call ourselves Goans. Now on Gedmatch and 23&me I see that I have more cousins from Mangalore rather than from Goa. For the last couple of generations we (Goans) have migrated to New Zealand, Canada and so many places in between. We are now marrying way outside our ancestors wildest imaginations. With the magic of the internet and various ancestry websites, there is a great interest to find one's roots, know who you are and make connections. And to me this is the significance and importance of this book. As the field of genetics takes giant steps forward, as it must, I am eagerly looking forward to the 3rd edition.
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